###### Editorial Note on [Part 648](/current/title-50/part-648?toc=1)

#### Editorial Note:

Nomenclature changes to part 648 appear at [62 FR 14651](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/62-FR-14651), Mar. 27, 1997.

#### § 648.351 Mid-Atlantic forage species possession limits.

(a) *Mid-Atlantic forage species.* Unless otherwise prohibited in [§ 648.80](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.80), a vessel issued a valid commercial permit in accordance with [§ 648.4](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.4) may fish for, possess, and land up to 1,700 lb (771.11 kg) of all Mid-Atlantic forage species combined per trip in or from the EEZ portion of the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit, as defined in [paragraph (b)](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.351#p-648.351(b)) of this section. A vessel not issued a permit in accordance with [§ 648.4](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.4) that is fishing exclusively in state waters is exempt from the possession limits specified in this section.

(b) *Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit.* The Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit is the area of the Atlantic Ocean that is bounded on the southeast by the outer limit of the U.S. EEZ; bounded on the south by 35°15.3′ N lat. (the approximate latitude of Cape Hatteras, NC); bounded on the west and north by the coastline of the United States; and bounded on the northeast by the following points, connected in the order listed by straight lines:

| Point | Latitude | Longitude |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | 40°59.32′ N | 73°39.62′ W |
| 2 | 40°59.02′ N | 73°39.41′ W |
| 3 | 40°57.05′ N | 73°36.78′ W |
| 4 | 40°57.87′ N | 73°32.85′ W |
| 5 | 40°59.78′ N | 73°23.70′ W |
| 6 | 41°1.57′ N | 73°15.00′ W |
| 7 | 41°3.40′ N | 73°6.10′ W |
| 8 | 41°4.65′ N | 73°0.00′ W |
| 9 | 41°6.67′ N | 72°50.00′ W |
| 10 | 41°8.69′ N | 72°40.00′ W |
| 11 | 41°10.79′ N | 72°29.45′ W |
| 12 | 41°12.22′ N | 72°22.25′ W |
| 13 | 41°13.57′ N | 72°15.38′ W |
| 14 | 41°14.94′ N | 72°8.35′ W |
| 15 | 41°15.52′ N | 72°5.41′ W |
| 16 | 41°17.43′ N | 72°1.18′ W |
| 17 | 41°18.62′ N | 71°55.80′ W |
| 18 | 41°18.27′ N | 71°54.47′ W |
| 19 | 41°10.31′ N | 71°46.44′ W |
| 20 | 41°2.35′ N | 71°38.43′ W |
| 21 | 40°54.37′ N | 71°30.45′ W |
| 22 | 40°46.39′ N | 71°22.51′ W |
| 23 | 40°38.39′ N | 71°14.60′ W |
| 24 | 40°30.39′ N | 71°6.72′ W |
| 25 | 40°22.38′ N | 70°58.87′ W |
| 26 | 40°14.36′ N | 70°51.05′ W |
| 27 | 40°6.33′ N | 70°43.27′ W |
| 28 | 39°58.29′ N | 70°35.51′ W |
| 29 | 39°50.24′ N | 70°27.78′ W |
| 30 | 39°42.18′ N | 70°20.09′ W |
| 31 | 39°34.11′ N | 70°12.42′ W |
| 32 | 39°26.04′ N | 70°4.78′ W |
| 33 | 39°17.96′ N | 69°57.18′ W |
| 34 | 39°9.86′ N | 69°49.6′ W |
| 35 | 39°1.77′ N | 69°42.05′ W |
| 36 | 38°53.66′ N | 69°34.53′ W |
| 37 | 38°45.54′ N | 69°27.03′ W |
| 38 | 38°37.42′ N | 69°19.57′ W |
| 39 | 38°29.29′ N | 69°12.13′ W |
| 40 | 38°21.15′ N | 69°4.73′ W |
| 41 | 38°13.00′ N | 68°57.35′ W |
| 42 | 38°4.84′ N | 68°49.99′ W |
| 43 \* | 38°2.21′ N | 68°47.62′ W |
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \* Point 43 falls on the U.S. EEZ. | | |

(c) *Transiting.* Any vessel issued a valid permit in accordance with [§ 648.4](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.4) may transit the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit, as defined in [paragraph (b)](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.351#p-648.351(b)) of this section, with an amount of Mid-Atlantic forage species on board that exceeds the possession limits specified in [paragraph (a)](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.351#p-648.351(a)) of this section to land in a port in a state that is outside of the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit, provided that those species were harvested outside of the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit and that all gear is stowed and not available for immediate use as defined in [§ 648.2](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.2).

(d) *Transiting.* Any vessel issued a valid permit in accordance with [§ 648.4](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.4) may transit the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit, as defined in [paragraph (c)](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.351#p-648.351(c)) of this section, with an amount of Mid-Atlantic forage species or Atlantic chub mackerel on board that exceeds the possession limits specified in [paragraphs (a)](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.351#p-648.351(a)) and [(b)](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.351#p-648.351(b)) of this section, respectively, to land in a port in a state that is outside of the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit, provided that those species were harvested outside of the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit and that all gear is stowed and not available for immediate use as defined in [§ 648.2](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.2). The transitting provisions specified in this [paragraph (d)](/on/2024-09-20/title-50/section-648.351#p-648.351(d)) for a vessel possessing Atlantic chub mackerel are effective through December 31, 2020.

[[82 FR 40733](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/82-FR-40733), Aug. 28, 2017, as amended at [85 FR 47117](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/85-FR-47117), Aug. 4, 2020]